MPF Webinars - 2020
Below (in reverse chronological order) are links to the on-demand recordings and handout materials for The MPF Webinars we presented in 2020. Moderated by John Remsen, Jr. and Uri Gutfreund, these sessions are fast-paced, highly interactive and full of benchmarking data.
____________________________________
Lessons Learned in 2020 and Big Bold Predictions for 2021
by Managing Partner Forum with Uri Gutfreund and John Remsen, Jr.
An MPF Webinar Originally Broadcast on December 31, 2020
We are pleased to present the on-demand recording and handout material for this week’s MPF Webinar called ”Lessons Learned in 2020 and Big Bold Predictions for 2021." Since April, more 2,300 managing partners and law firm leaders have participated in The MPF Webinar Series. The feedback we have been receiving has been gratifying and nothing short of fantastic. It was a fun, fast-paced session during which Uri Gutfreund and I shared our thoughts and perspectives about the impact of COVID-19 on the legal profession. We think you will enjoy it.
Click here to hear the Webinar.
Click here for Handout Materials.
____________________________________
Update on PPP Loan Forgiveness
by Managing Partner Forum with Scott Burke, Dan Mayo and Lisa Murray
An MPF Webinar Originally Broadcast on December 9, 2020
We thank Scott Burke, Managing Partner of Morrison Mahoney LLP; Dan Mayo, National Lead-Federal Tax Policy of Withum; and Lisa Murray, Head of Professionals Banking of Citizens Bank, for their insights and perspectives on this timely and important year-end topic for many, many law firms.
As always, we collect and present survey data on our topic (183 law firm leaders participating) and learned the following:
- Ten percent (10%) of firm leaders report that their law firms have applied for PPP Loan Forgiveness, and have been approved by both their bank and the SBA
- On the other hand, fifty-one percent (51%) had not yet applied for Loan Forgiveness
- Eighty-three percent (83%) expect to receive 100% forgiveness
As to the long-term impact of COVID-19 on the legal industry, thirty-three percent (33%) of firm leaders say it will “fundamentally change the practice of law as we know it,” a whopping, five-fold increase from when we asked the same question in May.
Click here to hear the Webinar.
Click here for Handout Materials.
____________________________________
Budgeting Considerations for 2021
by Managing Partner Forum with Fred Esposito and Tom Obermaier
An MPF Webinar Originally Broadcast on November 18, 2020
Our MPF Webinar entitled "Budgeting Considerations for 2021" with Frederick J. Esposito, Jr., Chief Operating Officer of Rivkin Radler, LLP and Tom Obermaier, Chief Executive Officer of SurePoint Technologies.119 firm leaders participated during the live session, and here are a few of the things we learned:
- Twenty-six percent (26%) of firm leaders project in an increase in Revenue per Lawyer (RPL) for their firms in 2021 compared to 2020.
- Sixty percent (60%) of firm leaders report a substantial increase (10% or more) in their firms’ investments in technology in 2021.
- Thirty-seven percent (37%) report an increase in their firms’ marketing and business development budgets in 2021.
- Seventy-four percent (74%) are planning associate raises in 2021, with forty-three percent (43%) looking at increases of five percent or more. Raises are not as generous for non-lawyer support staff.
Click here to hear the Webinar.
Click here for Handout Materials.
____________________________________
Which KPIs Are Best for Your Law Firm?
by Managing Partner Forum with Roger Hayse and Steve Mabey
An MPF Webinar Originally Broadcast on November 4, 2020
On the latest installment of The MPF Webinar Series we call "The Law Firm of the Future." we discussed the importance of measuring both financial and firm-building contributions. In addition to plenty of timely benchmarking data on the topic, the handouts include biographical profiles, PowerPoint deck, and the raw data from The MPF 2019 Law Firm Leadership survey
Here are a few highlights:
- Eighty-five percent (85%) of firm leaders say they use KPIs to monitor firm and individual performance. "Productivity" was by far the #1 metric they monitor.
- Twenty-six percent (26%) of firms have modified their KPIs since the COVID outbreak. Another twenty-four percent (24%) are considering it.
- Looking beyond financial KPIs, just twenty-four percent (24%) of firms measure client satisfaction and thirty-five percent (35%) measure employee satisfaction.
Click here to hear the Webinar.
Click here for Handout Materials.
____________________________________
Building the Virtual Law Firm
by Managing Partner Forum with Michael Moradzadeh and Chris Wilson
An MPF Webinar Originally Broadcast on October 21, 2020
We had a very interesting and thought-provoking conversation about the growing trend for law firms to move toward virtual business models as we work through the immediacy of the pandemic and look toward a post-COVID environment. Here are a few program highlights:
- In the remote working environment, partner productivity has slightly increased, while associate and staff productivity have significantly decreased.
- Twenty-eight percent (28%) of smaller and midsize law firms have decided to move to a more virtual business model. Fifty-one percent (51%) are considering it.
- The biggest concerns are the impacts on associate development and training, and maintaining a collaborative firm culture.
Click here to hear the Webinar.
Click here for Handout Materials.
____________________________________
Finding the Leader in You
by Managing Partner Forum with John Fanburg, Mickey Maher and Leah Nelson
An MPF Webinar Originally Broadcast on September 16, 2020
The session was an open conversation about how law firm leaders find resolve and resilience in times of change and uncertainty. Thank you to our guest speakers: John Fanburg, Managing Member of Brach Eichler, LLC; Mickey Maher, Managing Partner of Hecht Solberg; and Leah Nelson, Founder of Nelson Leadership.
Click here to hear the Webinar.
Click here for Handout Materials.
____________________________________
The Law Firm of the Future: The Managing Partner's Perspective
by Managing Partner Forum with Jon Pinney and Bob Young
An MPF Webinar Originally Broadcast on July 22, 2020
Our guest speakers were Jon J. Pinney, Esq., Managing Partner of Kohrman Jackson & Krantz (KJK) in Cleveland, Ohio; and Robert A. Young, Esq., Managing Partner of English Lucas Priest & Owsley (ELPOLaw) in Bowling Green, Kentucky. We had a lively discussion about what leaders of mid-size law firms need to be thinking about during these transitional times, and here are a few program highlights:
- The traditional law office is dead.
- Smart investment in technology is critical going forward.
- Alternative Legal Service Providers (ALSPs) will continue to thrive and disrupt.
- Forward-thinking law firms will dominate the market.
This was the tenth program in our series of complimentary MPF Webinars we are calling "Responding to the Coronavirus Pandemic."
Click here to hear the Webinar.
Click here for Handout Materials.
____________________________________
Leveraging Technology to Improve
Your Firm's Performance and Profitability
by Managing Partner Forum with Lee Hovermale and Morris Tabush
An MPF Webinar Originally Broadcast on July 8, 2020
Currently the CEO of FlexManage, Lee has been in the legal technology field for more than three decades. Morris is the Founder and President of Tabush Group. Both are recognized thought leaders on technology and the law firm of the future. We survey registrants on several topics and here is what we learned this week:
- 56% of workers prefer to stay working in a remote environment even after the restrictions are lifted
- 41% of firm leaders say their firms will invest more heavily in technology in the wake of COVID-19
- 51% of firms staff their technology needs mostly or entirely in-house. 18% outsource all of it.
- Many firms are wasting lots of money on technology. Be strategic. Training is paramount.
We extend our thanks to Lee, Morris and our co-host, Uri Gutfreund of Risk Strategies, for a terrific session with plenty of timely bench-marking data.
Click here to hear the Webinar.
Click here for Handout Materials.
____________________________________
Marketing Your Law Firm During a Pandemic
By Managing Partner Forum with Guy Alvarez and Lynn Tellefsen
An MPF Webinar Originally Broadcast on June 24, 2020
Since mid-March, we have been presenting an MPF Webinar series called "Responding to the Coronavirus Pandemic." This session we called "Marketing Your Law Firm During a Pandemic" with Guy Alvarez, Founder of Good2BSocial, and Lynn Tellefsen, Chief Marketing and Business Development Director of Wilentz. Here are some of the highlights of what we learned:
- 82% of participating law firm leaders believe that it is "very important" to build and maintain their firm's marketing efforts during the pandemic. Another 15% say it is "somewhat important."
- 46% of firm leaders report that their firms provide business development training for all lawyers who want it.
- Among digital marketing tactics, 78% report that their firms distribute e-newsletter/alerts, and 61% say they are presenting webinars.
We had a terrific session and, as always, presented plenty of timely bench-marking data.
As an added bonus for this session, participants were invited to register for “How Lawyers Can Use Social Media to Build their Brand and Grow their Practice,” an on-demand Webinar presented by Guy Alvarez. Click here to register.
Click here to hear the Webinar.
Click here for Handout Materials.
____________________________________
Your Firm's Culture in a Post-COVID-19 World
By Managing Partner Forum with Terry Isner and Leah Nelson
An MPF Webinar Originally Broadcast on June 10, 2020
On June 10th, we presented our seventh MPF Webinar in a series called "Responding to the Coronavirus Pandemic." Our topic was “Your Firm’s Culture in a Post-COVID-19 World”, and our guest speakers were Terry Isner of Jaffe and Leah Nelson of Nelson Leadership. Here is what we learned this week:
- 85% of firm leaders say their firm responses "better than expected" to the Pandemic.
- 82% of them believe their firms will emerge from the Pandemic in a “stronger” position. 26% say “much stronger.”
- 88% say firm culture is "very important" to their firms.
- 85% believe that “culture” differentiates their law firms from competing firms in their markets.
Those are big numbers! And they support our strong advice to put “firm culture” at the top of your firm’s priority list as we look forward and plan for the future.
Click here to hear the Webinar.
Click here for Handout Materials.
____________________________________
The Law Office of the Future
by Managing Partner Forum with Sherry Cushman and Morris Tabush
An MPF Webinar Originally Broadcast on May 27, 2020
On May 27th, we presented a webinar called “The Law Office of the Future” with Sherry Cushman, Vice Chairman of Cushman & Wakefield; and Morris Tabush, President of Tabush Group. 222 managing partners and firm leaders participated, and we discussed the long-term impacts that COVID-19 will have on the legal profession, especially in the areas of office space and technology. Here is what we learned this week:
- 72% of law firm leaders project they will need less office space in the long-term.
- 86% project an increase in technology investment. 24% project an annual increase of 25% or more.
- 74% project the need for fewer support staff.
Clearly, COVID-19 is accelerating many long-imbedded trends in the legal profession, and firms that want to “get back to the way things used to be” are moving in the wrong direction.
Click here to hear the Webinar.
Click here for Handout Materials.
____________________________________
Finding Forgiveness in Your Law Firm's PPP Loan
by Managing Partner Forum with Scott Burke, Dan Mayo, and Lisa Murray
An MPF Webinar Originally Broadcast on May 13, 2020
On May 13th, we presented our fifth MPF Webinar in a series we're calling "Responding to the Coronavirus Pandemic." Our most popular session to date – “Finding Forgiveness in Your Law Firm's PPP Loan” – with more than 250 law firm leaders in attendance for the live session. During the 60-minute program, we learned that 99% of law firms have applied for a PPP loan with most having received funding. But details of the program remain murky. Our panel did a great job bringing us up to speed on the latest developments. The handouts include our PP deck, online survey results, a few timely articles and the most recent (May 13, 2020) FAQ update. Be sure to check out the response to Question #46.
Click here to hear the Webinar.
Click here for Handout Materials.
____________________________________
Maintaining Productivity When People Work at Home
by Managing Partner Forum with Sharon Meit Abrahams
An MPF Webinar Originally Broadcast on April 29, 2020
On April 29th, we presented our fourth MPF Webinar called “Maintaining Productivity When People Work at Home.” Dr. Sharon Meit Abrahams joined us to discuss strategies to maintain and improve productivity when lawyers and support staff work from home. Here is some of what they told us:
- 53% of firm leaders believe that "productivity" declines of 10% or more when people work from home. 11% see declines of more than 25%.
- Too many distractions, lack of structure and little accountability are the primary reasons.
- 73% think the pandemic has accelerated long term trends in the profession in areas like flex-time, work-at-home and the use of technology.
Interestingly, not one person who completed the survey anticipates a return to "business as usual" when the pandemic is behind us. The handouts include our PP deck, online survey results, Sharon’s article called “How to Make Working from Home Work for You,” and Cushman Wakefield’s “How-to Guide for Reopening Your Workplace.”
Click here to hear the Webinar.
Click here for Handout Materials.
____________________________________
Managing Expenses During an Economic Downturn
by Managing Partner Forum and HBR Consulting
An MPF Webinar Originally Broadcast on April 15, 2020
Since many firms are looking at ways to reduce expenses, we invited Kevin McClean and Lee Garbowitz from HBR Consulting to discuss "Managing Expenses During an Economic Downturn." In addition, here's what we learned in this week's brief online survey in which 75 law firms, mostly mid-size, participated:
- 57% of law firms project total firm revenue in 2020 to decline between 11-25% due to the coronaviris outbreak. 11% anticipate a hit of more than 25%.
- Postponing major investments, eliminating discretionary spending (mostly travel, client events and the like),and reducing partner draws are the top three ways firms are reducing short-term expenses.
- As of Wednesday, 99% of firms reported that they had applied for a PPP loan. Nearly half said they had been approved, and 12% reported that they had already received the funds.
Click here to hear the Webinar.
Click here for Handout Materials.
____________________________________
The Psychology of Leadership in Times of Crisis
by Managing Partner Forum with Larry Richard
An MPF Webinar Originally Broadcast on April 1, 2020
On April 1st, we presented our second of a series of MPF Webinars called “Responding to the Coronavirus Pandemic.” We invited Dr. Larry Richard, a long-time MPF Faculty member and the world's leading expert on the lawyer personality and the psychology of leading lawyers, to share his insights and guidance to law firm leaders to help them in the unsettled times before us. He talks about lawyers' need for predictability, control and connection; and that all of three of these needs have been disrupted in an abrupt and dramatic way. Larry talks about the importance of calm and steady leadership in times of crisis, with plenty of communication, authenticity and gratitude.
Click here to hear the Webinar.
Click here for Handout Materials.
____________________________________
Responding to the Coronavirus Pandemic
by Managing Partner Forum with Uri Gutfreund
An MPF Webinar Originally Broadcast on March 18, 2020
On March 18th, we presented a 45-minute MPF Webinar called “Responding to the Coronavirus Pandemic.” During the session, Uri Gutfreund and I provided guidance and resources to firm leaders on how to lead their firms through this unfolding crisis. The handouts include our PP deck, links to resources, online survey results, a template called “Pandemic Preparation and Response Plan” and a template for a “Business Continuity Plan.”
Click here to hear the Webinar.
Click here for Handout Materials.
Presented by
